Patent GB-681440-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to printing machines for producing business instruments
IPC: B41L47/58
Filed: 1949-11-07
Abstract: 681,440. Printing-machines. ADDRESSOGRAPH - MULTIGRAPH CORPORATION. Nov. 7, 1949 [Nov. 6, 1948], No. 28437/49. Class 100 (ii). [Also in Group XIX] Addressing and like machines.-An addressing or like machine having means for printing numerical amounts and for concurrently producing a proof sheet listing such amounts and totals thereof includes an adding and listing unit, a printing unit .through which individual printing and control devices, each adapted to bear numerical data representations, identifying means at predetermined selected positions and printing means corresponding at least in part with the numerical data representations are adapted to be passed one by one to sensing and printing positions, the sensing means including a first means operable to sense the data representations and set up the adding and listing unit, and a second means operable to sense the identifying means. A selector switch is operatively associated with said second means and initiates operation of said adding and listing unit whenever set in its print position. Transmitting means actuated to set up the adding and listing unit by said first means is restored under control of said adding and listing unit when the latter is operated through an adding operation and under control of said printing unit when said selector switch has been set to its skip position. Printing and control devices D, Fig. 29, each comprise a printing plate 51, a data card 53 perforated at 60 to represent according to a code numerical data on the printing plate, one or more identifying tabs 65 in selected positions along the top edge, and a notch N for engaging a pawl for correct alignment at the sensing station. The printing devices D, Figs. 1 and 2, are fed in succession from a magazine M to sensing position II, idle position II-A, transfer position II-T, and to printing position, where they are printed by a platen PR or skipped, and to a collecting position K. The printing machine 40 may be as described in Specification 558,793. The platen mechanism is described in Specification 555,033, and is carried on a frame 125, described in U.S.A. Specification 2,275,439. The printing devices D may be of various forms according to the type of documents to be printed, and may be as described in Specifications 489,390 or 372,337, or may comprise thin sheets of stencil paper in a protective frame. Sheets or forms to be printed on are fed to the printing position by mechanism described in Specification 560,597, or they may be fed by the lister described in Specification 563,081. Associated with the printing machine is an adding and listing unit 41, described in Specification 658,968, [Group XIX], for making a proof sheet PS of the numerical data printed, and for taking totals of the amounts listed. When a main switch 146 is closed, an electric motor drives continuously a pulley loosely mounted on the main drive shaft, the pulley continuously rotating a further shaft connected to the drive gear of the listing unit 41. Three clutches are provided, of the form described in Specification 558,793, a master clutch for connecting the pulley to the main drive shaft, a platen clutch, and a printing device feed clutch, the last two to link respectively the platen mechanism and the feed mechanism to the drive shaft. On closing a starting switch 710, the master clutch is allowed to close by the action of a solenoid, and the printing machine is started, being stopped if the circuit is broken by a detecting means. The operation of the machine is modified by a selector mechanism. The printing devices D are advanced by carrier bars 192, Fig. 13, reciprocating in rails 193, 194, by means of a rock shaft 195 and arm 196. For correctly locating a printing device at the sensing station, a pawl 275, Fig. 2, is pivoted at its rear to the rail 194, and is urged inwardly by a spring 279 acting on a pin 277. The pawl has an arm 275A passing in front of a device D, and a tooth engaging the notch N therein. As a device D approaches sensing position, the pawl is in an intermediate position with the arm 275A forming a stop for the front of the device. The pawl then moves inwards until the tooth rises against the device, and passes into the notch N, and to an outward position to release the device. The pawl is controlled by a reciprocating cam bar 285 with cams acting on a roller 287 on the pin 277. When the pawl is in its inward, locking position, it closes a safety switch 296. A similar pawl 275X locates the plate at idle position II-A. Sensing apparatus. The sensing head 200 comprises arms 201, 202 pivoted to the rails 193, 194 by knife-edge connections and springs 207. During the second half of the operating cycle of the machine, as the arm 196 moves rearwardly, a pawl 309 thereon, Fig. 13, acts on a ratchet 308 on a sleeve 306 loose on the shaft 195, to rock the sleeve and a six-lobed star-cam 305 thereon through an indexing movement of 60 degrees, the cam acting to pull down a link 300, Figs. 2 and 13, against a spring 303, and rotate a plate 302, rock-shaft 211 journalled in the rails 93, 94, and cam plates 210 having slots 212, to depress the sensing head into sensing position. The sensing head 200 comprises upper and lower perforated guide plates 222, 221, Fig. 12, secured to the arms 201, 202. Pins 220 for sensing the perforations 60 in the data cards 53 are guided in the plates 222, 221, in all the possible positions of perforations 60, collars 220H resting on the plate 221, and springs between the collars and the upper plate urging the pins downwards. Where perforations 60 are not encountered, the springs are compressed. Where perforations are encountered, the pins actuate Bowden cables 225, Figs. 11 and 12, for actuating the control pins of the listing unit 41. The Bowden cable sheaths 226 are clamped in perforations in two plates 227 by means of anchoring pins extending through horizontal bores therein. The ends of the cables project through a cap plate 228 and are extended into plungers 230 slidable in an upper guide plate 231. The plates 227, 228, 231 are bolted together, with spacers 232 separating the plates 228, 231, so that the plungers are movable from an upper restored position with the headed lower ends of the plungers against the underside of the plate 231 to a lower actuated position with the headed ends resting on the plate 228. On a mounting bar 242B is pivoted a rocker 245, clamped to the bar by a clamp 243. In the rocker 245 is a member 248, slidable fore-andaft, the movement being limited by pins of the rocker 245 engaging in slots 253 in the member 248. The slide member is lockable in its rear operative position by a locking device 256, 257. Sensing pins 240 of three different possible lengths are selectively placed in perforations 241, 242 in the plates 222, 221 for sensing tabs 65 of the printing device or if perforated tabs are used, for sensing unperforated portions thereof. The slide member 248 in its front position allows the insertion and removal of the pins, and in its rear position a flange 250 thereof rests on the pins. Hence when a tab is sensed, the slide member 248 and rocker 245 are swung anticlockwise, and a lever 260 on the rocker 245 is raised and actuates a selector switch, which is thus settable in one of four positions, according to whether a tab is sensed and the length of the pin sensing it. A tab 65 in a particular position on the device D may be sensed by a long sensing pin aligned with a slot in the flange 250, the pin actuating a lever 271 passing through the slot, to cause a lever 268 to actuate a total control switch 266 and initiate a T-2 totalling operation. Storage mechanism. Mounted on the sleeve 306 is a storage drum 315, Fig. 13, comprising discs 316, 317, in which are slidable six angularly spaced storage pins 318 slidable to the left into an operative position projecting from the disc 317, and retained in either position by a continuous spring 320. The discs move through 60 degrees during each cycle of operation. When a storage solenoid 330 is energised, a lever 325 actuates a pin at the setting position. When the printing device whose sensing caused the energising of the solenoid reaches printing position, the actuated pin acts on a lever to withdraw the stop lever of the platen clutch, whereupon printing takes place. The pin is later restored by an arm 342. Similar discs 316B, 317B, pins 318B, solenoid 330B and lever 325B cause a bell 345 to be struck when certain types of printing devices have been sensed and are moved to printing position. Totalling mechanism. A so-called T-1 total may be made on the proof sheet PS after a certain number of printing operations, and the total may be taken at intervals of one of three different numbers according to the setting of a switch 707, Fig. 1, which places in an effective circuit one of three switches 421, 422, 423, Fig. 25. A gear 411 loosely mounted on a shaft 412 is continuously driven from the main drive pulley. A sleeve 413 is urged by a spring 414 against a frictional drive on the gear, so that the sleeve tends to be rotated, being held by a pawl 430. The sleeve 413 carries three cam discs 421C, 422C, 423C which at one point have notches to allow the switches 421, 422, 423 to close, a ratchet 428 to engage pawls 430, 431, and a control disc 427 having a notch 427N to engage a re-setting pawl 440. In normal position after re-setting, the pawl 440 engages the notch 427N. At each printing operation, the ratchet rotates one tooth. The number of operations before totalling depends on the angularposition of the notches in the cam discs with respect to the notch 427N, and the setting of the switch 707. At each printing operation, a solenoid 450, Fig. 36, is energised to move a lever 443 to the left and rotate a plate 435 clockwise. This causes the pawl 430 to be released and the pawl 431, which is